The Minister for Agriculture Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, has announced a new Fodder Import Support measure worth €4.25 million.
The Minister reached an agreement with Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe to secure the allocated funding to alleviate some of the pressure of farmers after a year of extreme weather.
Fodder Shortage
“In light of the recent severe drought conditions and their impact on an already difficult fodder situation, I am introducing a support measure contributing to the cost of importing fodder from abroad,” Minister Creed said.
“This additional commitment to securing adequate fodder supplies builds on a range of supports already put in place.”
The new scheme will reduce the cost of importing forage (hay, silage, haulage, etc.) from outside the country.
The measure will operate through the co-operatives or registered importers and will cover forage imported from 12th August 2018 to 31st December 2018, subject to EU State Aid rules.
A Valuable Source
Minister Creed emphasised that, despite being operated through the co-ops and registered importers, the true beneficiaries will be farmers who need supplies of fodder.
“As was the case in the earlier Fodder Import measure of last spring, participation will be straightforward for the farmer who contacts a participating co-op or registered importer and purchases fodder,” he added.
“My Department will subsequently reimburse the co-op or importer with a contribution towards the cost of transport.”
Applications forms and terms and conditions to the scheme are made available through the co-ops and registered importers and will also be available on the Department of Agriculture’s website.
“The measure I am announcing today will provide a valuable extra source of fodder, complementing the range of initiatives I have already introduced this summer focused on maximising the production of fodder from our own land resources,” Creed concluded.
“I will continue to monitor the fodder situation closely and work with all stakeholders until we have successfully addressed the issues around fodder availability.”
© 2018 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Aidan O’Sullivan. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
